Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-11
PATHS ESCAPE.
ATIRRIgLB EXPLOSION IN THE sAH
FRANCISCO oPERA.H0UsE.
TIE Goodness Of Eewfpaper.Men and tho
Diva Prevent Panic Supposed
Dynamite Fiend.
lBr tolerraph % the pI.pateh.l

SAN Francisco, February 10.-A
dramatic and sensational episode oc-
Cured at the Grand Opera House last
night. Adelina Patti was giving her
last concert of the season, which was
announced also as her last appearance
in this city. The incident will tend TO
make PATHS farewell memorable. At
1920 o'clock, after Patti had twice APP
peared in front of the curtain in re-
Spouse to recalls at the conclusion Of
an aria from "La Trarciatia, and just
as she had retired again to the wings,
a tremendous explosion was clearly
heard above the vociferous applause
and a cloud Of smoke was seen to rise
over the railing of thetop gallery. In
stantly every lorgrette in the house
was focused on that portion OF the
house where the exciting scene was
Transporting, and panic was imminent.
The people in the gallery were rushing
about seeking the quickest means of
exit. and il was only through the
self-possession of the newspaper
men present in the boxes, coupled
with that of the diva, that STAN
pede of the entire audience for the
doors WIS prevented. The newspaper
men were in the stage-box, and quickly
perceived that no serious result had Oc-
Cured and that the danger was over.
They communicated by mods and mo
tons with Nine. Patti, who was still in
the flies, to come before the curtain.
CoMPREHENDED THE SITUATION.
She comprehended the situation and
came forward quickly, and, giving the
cue to Arditi, began singing q" Home,
Sweet Home" This had u calming ef-
feet on the audience, and though many
left TO ascertain the cause and effect Of
the unexpected punctuation to the per
Torrance, the concert was carried on to
its conclusion.
AN INTERNAL MACHINE.
As soon as the location Of the trouble
could be learned policemen rushed to
the scene and found man with a
badly-burnod face and hands, moan
ing with agony, and the remains
of an Internal machine about him.
He was placed under arrest and
conveyed to Irving Hospital, where
he stated that when he stopped to pick
up his hat and cane he found package
under his seat which he picked up, and
that as he raised it to see what it was
it exploded. Though he was badly
burned about the face and hands, it is
believed he received no serious injuries,
and no other person is believed to have
been hurt He gave his name as DR..
James Hodges, aged seventy-one years,
a dyspepsia specialist, residence No. 4
Central Place.
ANOTHER STORY.
Others, however, give a different but
undoubtedly correct version of the af-
fair. A lady who sat next to him, and
who narrowly escaped injury, says that
during the evening he made a number
of significant remarks. which pointed
clearly TO a purpose he afterwards at
tempted TO carry ont. Among the OBJ
servations which the lady distinctly re-
membered was Patti is sing
ing excellently tonight, but she
will never sing any more He
was also heard to make uncompli-
mentary and revcngeful illusions to
J. c. Flood and his family, who were
present in a box. At Irving Hospital,
after his wounds had been dressed, the
chief Of police attempted to make him
commit himself, but the effort was a
complete failure. He stOutly maintained
his innocence. The chief of police
pronounces him crank.
THE INTENTION.
The bomb was made of a can filed
with powder in the centre, which was
in bottle. The can was wrapped in
pieces of cloth soaked in inGammable
oil, and it is believed that the intention
was not only to kill Patti and those near
the stage, but also to set fire to the
building. The bomb was arranged to
explode by a number of friction
matches, which were connected with
fuse inserted in the powder. The theory
is that the fuse burned too quickly for
the crank, and the explosion was prema-
tuTe. Though Patti performed herpart
in the remainder of the programme it
was noticed that the occurrence had
considerable effect upon her, and some